My goal in 2012 was to compete in a watermelon seed-spitting contest. Not only did I fulfill that lifelong dream, I made it happen by taking the reins and organizing a contest, too. And even though I didn’t win the contest, merely participating was a personal victory in itself.
So which watermelon resolution will I tackle in 2013? This year, I’ll do something that seems simple, but I know it will be a bit of a challenge: I’ll attempt to grow my own watermelon.
I’ve talked about my lack of a green thumb in the past (I’ve killed cactus, if that’s any indication), which is what makes this resolution so daunting. Oh sure, they say watermelons are relatively easy to grow – they just need plenty of sun and water – but there are all sorts of other factors involved, too.
What type of watermelon will I grow? Will I grow the watermelon from a seed (yes) or will I start with a baby watermelon plant? (I don’t even know what small plants are called. Sprouts? Saplings?) When should I plant the seed? How often should I water it and how much water should I give it? And then there’s the whole issue of fertilizing the soil. My brain hurts just thinking about those details.
Luckily, I have access to some accomplished watermelon growers at the National Watermelon Promotion Board and our expert panelist farmer Josh Bailey. I’ll pester them with questions throughout the year and do plenty of research on my own. The end result, I hope, will be at least one edible watermelon by the end of the growing season.
Of course, I’ll also provide monthly updates here on the blog, starting with next month’s entry, in which I determine which type of watermelon to grow and when to begin the growing process. Wish me luck … I’ll need it!
View Comments (1)
Good Luck and may you have many watermelons not just 1. Sounds like a good idea, I’m going to look into it too.